Number of children being arrested falls by two thirds

CHILD arrests have fallen by more than two thirds in seven years after police were encouraged to drop the “arrest first, ask questions later” approach to dealing with unruly youngsters.

Police arrested 79,012 children in 2017 – one every seven minutes. That is significantly down on the 245,763 arrests in 2010 – a reduction of 68 per cent from one every three minutes.

Campaigners argue that keeping children out of the criminal justice system ultimately helps to prevent crime and stops teenagers becoming trapped in a cycle of criminality.

The Howard League for Penal Reform, the charity that uncovered the figures, said the data showed it had been successful in persuading police officers to use the powers of arrest as a last resort, and instead treat bad behaviour as a welfare issue.

Frances Crook, its chief executive, said: “It is a phenomenal achievement by the police and the Howard League, and it means that tens of thousands of children will have a brighter future without their life chances being blighted by unnecessary police contact and criminal records.”

Despite the fall, the league urged more action, especially in the areas of residential care, “county lines” gangs and the disproportionate levels of criminalisation of black and minority ethnic children.

Every police force in England and Wales made fewer child arrests in 2017 than in 2010.